Digital inclusion support for seniors
Ciara Arnot Community Advisor •
Ensuring every New Zealander has access to the Internet and the skills to use it, is something that has been forefront in our minds. One group working hard to make this a reality is Digital Seniors. Seniors will soon be a quarter of our population and technology can help them continue to engage and take part in society.
Digital Seniors, Home based digital support for seniors
Digital Seniors have been working to roll out a nationwide 0800 number to provide support to seniors.
To achieve this, Digital Seniors reviewed their services in the Wairarapa as a model they could scale up. They interviewed a number of other organisations who run nationwide 0800 numbers to understand what to look out for in a provider. Using these insights they assessed a number of providers and have come up with a recommendation.
They are now working to train their network of volunteers to use the new system, ready to provide 9-5 support, 5 days a week.
Seniors will call the 0800 number to:
- talk about how Digital Seniors can help them and/or answer their queries
- receive free advice with their technical issue from a volunteer coach over the phone
- set up a home visit to resolve a technical issue
- be referred to one of their learning hubs (online hub and/or district hub)
- request home coaching (if they are homebound and can’t go to a district learning hub)
The next phase of this work is underway, and will see the network of volunteers design and implement home based digital support.
InternetNZ
Each year InternetNZ gives out community grants to provide support for community-led initiatives that extend the availability, use, and benefit of the Internet and its associated technologies and applications in Aotearoa.
This initiative was a recipient of funding in 2020.